Asian Bond Watch: 2019 struggles with long-term positives and near-term headwinds

Kheng-Siang Ng The answer to this is likely to be found between longer-term positive factors such as favourable interest rates, the region’s consistently strong fundamentals and recent economic initiatives, and near-term headwinds. Overall, we think the outlook remains positive for Asian local currency bonds in the long run.  TRADE DISPUTE SOFTENS GROWTH Escalating trade tensions between the US and China took a particular toll on Asia in 2018, with, for example, the com…